Jennifer Maggio shares her story with Ron Deal of her challenges as a single mom that propelled her to begin a national ministry, serving over 1,000,000 single moms. Now married in a blended family, she continues the mission that no single mom walk alone.

Show Notes and Resources
You can still register for Blended & Blessed! 
Learn more about Jennifer Maggio and her ministry. 
Get a copy of the book, Preparing to Blend. 
Support FamilyLife Blended with a gift. 

Jennifer Maggio shares her story with Ron Deal of her challenges as a single mom that propelled her to begin a national ministry, serving over 1,000,000 single moms. Now married in a blended family, she continues the mission that no single mom walk alone.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.blendedandblessed.com/">You can still register for Blended &amp; Blessed!</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://jennifermaggio.com/">Learn more about Jennifer Maggio and her ministry.</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://shop.familylife.com/product/preparing-to-blend/">Get a copy of the book, Preparing to Blend.</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Support FamilyLife Blended with a gift.</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

FamilyLife Blended® provides timeless wisdom and practical help and hope for blended families and those who love them. Join Ron L. Deal, LMFT, LPC as he and his guests discuss a wide variety of marriage, family, and relationship topics related to blended families.

Timeless wisdom and practical help and hope for blended families with Ron Deal, LMFT, LPC.

FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

Jennifer Maggio shares her story with Ron Deal of her challenges as a single mom that propelled her to begin a national ministry, serving over 1,000,000 single moms. Now married in a blended family, she continues the mission that no single mom walk alone.

160 From Shame to Strength: A Single Mom's Journey to Healing and Hope

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2025-06-02_S07_E165.pdf

Good co-parenting with a former spouse helps kids navigate life in two homes with greater ease. Ron Deal's conversation with Jay and Tammy Daughtry teaches us how to be parental partners, not angry associates, as we compartmentalize the pain from divorce and manage co-parenting through a businesslike relationship. They emphasized the importance of congenial handoffs during the parental exchange, biological time spent with biological parents/kids, recognizing unrealistic expectations of former spouse relationships, reframing sensitive days on the calendar to minimize emotional landmines, and understanding two dynamics often at play:

Bio fog—when a deep connection between biological parents and kids creates fog with the parent, who then often tolerates misbehavior.

Step vision—when an objective stepparent quickly identifies shortfalls in stepchildren and often communicates them harshly.

Show Notes and Resources
Learn about the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry 
Find a qualified counselor 
Check out Jay & Tammy's resources 
Send a tax deductible gift 

Good co-parenting with a former spouse helps kids navigate life in two homes with greater ease. Ron Deal's conversation with Jay and Tammy Daughtry teaches us how to be parental partners, not angry associates, as we compartmentalize the pain from divorce and manage co-parenting through a businesslike relationship. They emphasized the importance of congenial handoffs during the parental exchange, biological time spent with biological parents/kids, recognizing unrealistic expectations of former spouse relationships, reframing sensitive days on the calendar to minimize emotional landmines, and understanding two dynamics often at play: Bio fog&mdash;when a deep connection between biological parents and kids creates fog with the parent, who then often tolerates misbehavior. Step vision&mdash;when an objective stepparent quickly identifies shortfalls in stepchildren and often communicates them harshly.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.summitonstepfamilies.com/">Learn about the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://smartstepfamilies.com/smart-help/therapy-providers">Find a qualified counselor</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.coparentinginternational.com/">Check out Jay &amp; Tammy's resources</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Send a tax deductible gift</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Good co-parenting with a former spouse helps our kids navigate life in two homes with greater ease. Ron Deal's conversation with Jay and Tammy Daughtry teaches us how to be parental partners, not angry associates, through a businesslike relationship.

165: Two Homes, One Team: Co-Parenting for Your Kids' Well-being

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2025-05-19_S07_E164.pdf

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/docs/FLBp20250519_S07_E164.docx

Dr. John Townsend defines four essential character traits that individuals need to navigate life's challenges and demands. He shares with Ron Deal that these components are required for stronger relationships. We can help our children and stepchildren develop them and be resilient kids. 1) Attachment: the ability to trust and be vulnerable with others 2) Separation: the ability to have your own voice, which includes healthy boundary-setting 3) Integration: navigating both the positive and negative realities of life 4) Adulthood: the capacity to take responsibility, make sound decisions, and live a purposeful life.

Show Notes and Resources
Access Dr. Townsend's TPRAT and other resources 
Search on and/or post to the blended ministry map 
Give a gift to support blended families 
Ron's trainings and events 
List of Recognized Providers 

Dr. John Townsend defines four essential character traits that individuals need to navigate life's challenges and demands. He shares with Ron Deal that these components are required for stronger relationships. We can help our children and stepchildren develop them and be resilient kids. 1) Attachment: the ability to trust and be vulnerable with others 2) Separation: the ability to have your own voice, which includes healthy boundary-setting 3) Integration: navigating both the positive and negative realities of life 4) Adulthood: the capacity to take responsibility, make sound decisions, and live a purposeful life.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://drtownsend.com/">Access Dr. Townsend's TPRAT and other resources</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/find-an-event/#blendedmap">Search on and/or post to the blended ministry map&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Give a gift to support blended families</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://smartstepfamilies.com/smart-help/clinical-ministry-training">Ron's trainings and events</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://smartstepfamilies.com/smart-help/therapy-providers">List of Recognized Providers</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

According to Dr. John Townsend there are four essential character traits essential for stronger relationships: attachment, separation, integration, and adulthood. He shares with Ron Deal what's required in each that helps raise resilient kids.

164: Building Character for Stronger Relationships: Developing the 4 Essential Character Traits to Raise Resilient Kids

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2025-05-05_S07_E163.pdf

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/docs/FLBp20250505_S07_E163.docx

The stepmom-stepdaughter relationship often includes competing loyalties and confusing dynamics and can be the hardest relationship to navigate when blending a family. Ron Deal talks with stepmom Jessica Pickens and her bonus daughter, Jayla, about their ongoing struggles, cutting through tension, which began early and continued for years, and how they finally built a loving, trusting relationship with one another. 
Jayla explains how her position as a “Daddy’s girl” and her relationship with her own mother impacted her desire for a bonus mom. She didn’t respond well to Jessica’s nurturing, and tension escalated as she got older. In time, Jessica began to understand the complexity of their relationship, change her expectations, and parent Jayla differently. Slowly, their relationship moved toward understanding and love toward one another.

Show Notes and Resources
New To Our Community? Here's a gift for you! 
Watch Women & Blended Families on YouTube 
Learn about Jessica and Blended Family Matters and their podcast 
Jessica and Jayla's podcast with Ron. 
Give a tax-deductible gift. 
Check out Ron's events. 

The stepmom-stepdaughter relationship often includes competing loyalties and confusing dynamics and can be the hardest relationship to navigate when blending a family. Ron Deal talks with stepmom Jessica Pickens and her bonus daughter, Jayla, about their ongoing struggles, cutting through tension, which began early and continued for years, and how they finally built a loving, trusting relationship with one another. Jayla explains how her position as a &ldquo;Daddy&rsquo;s girl&rdquo; and her relationship with her own mother impacted her desire for a bonus mom. She didn&rsquo;t respond well to Jessica&rsquo;s nurturing, and tension escalated as she got older. In time, Jessica began to understand the complexity of their relationship, change her expectations, and parent Jayla differently. Slowly, their relationship moved toward understanding and love toward one another.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/content-offers/building-love-with-the-five-ps-of-stepparenting/">New To Our Community? Here's a gift for you!</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/O2R6SnLAVRI?si=qBa4AfChWKbjpdsH">Watch Women &amp; Blended Families on YouTube</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://bfmacademy.org/">Learn about Jessica and Blended Family Matters and their podcast</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/QBNa3dwH3sY?si=3XFdsJ2iTxzHUyCw">Jessica and Jayla's podcast with Ron.</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Give a tax-deductible gift.</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://smartstepfamilies.com/events/find-an-event">Check out Ron's events.</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

The stepmom-stepdaughter relationship can be hard to navigate in blended families. Ron Deal talks with Jessica & Jayla Pickens about their struggles, which began early & continued for years, how they cut through tension, and built a trusting relationship.

160 From Shame to Strength: A Single Mom's Journey to Healing and Hope

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